![]() ![]() TPG's senior credit cards editor, Benet Wilson, is a regular Southwest flyer. In fact, some travelers may choose to book the first flight of the day for precisely that reason. Additionally, the airline claims it's deep cleaning planes from nose to tail for six to seven hours each every night. Southwest Airlines says it's using Sani-Cide EX3, a broad-spectrum disinfectant, to clean onboard lavatories and tray tables before every flight. Related: What in-flight service to expect on your next flight Cleanliness standards However, we expect these instances to be very brief, and customers should put their face covering back on as soon as possible." The Southwest website states: "We do acknowledge there may be times when a customer needs to briefly remove their face covering, for instance, to eat, drink or take medicine. You can take down your mask while actively eating or drinking on Southwest, but the airline wants you to keep it quick. (Which, honestly, I think is smart: Here's why serving alcohol on a flight may not be the best plan right now.) Southwest is serving water and snack mix on flights of 250 miles or longer, but that's it. If you think you're going to need to drink or eat anything substantial on a Southwest flight, it's a good idea to come prepared. Related: Do kids have to wear face masks on planes? Minimal onboard service Face shields are allowed in addition to (but not instead of) face masks. Neck gaiters are allowed as long as they cover the nose and mouth and are secured under the chin. Other than being under 2 years old, there are no exemptions to Southwest's face mask mandate.įace masks with exhaust valves, or those made of a material such as lace or mesh, are not permitted. Southwest Airlines requires face masks for all customers 2 years of age and older. ![]() (Photo by Andrea Bacle Photography for The Points Guy) Related: Southwest to stop blocking middle seats in December Boarding 10 at a time Here are more tips for getting the best seats on Southwest Airlines. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card includes four credits for these boarding positions each year. If available, you can also purchase A1 to A15 boarding places at the gate. Otherwise, check in exactly 24 hours before departure for the earliest boarding spot. You can purchase EarlyBird boarding and let Southwest claim your spot in the virtual boarding line 36 hours before departure. For other travelers, during a typical Southwest flight, you'll board according to your group (A through C) and boarding position (1 through 60). Families with kids ages 6 and younger (defined as up to two adults with children) can board during Family Boarding between the A and B groups. This may matter more than ever after Dec. See privacy policy.Īs always, your boarding group is what determines when you can get on board and claim your seat(s) of choice. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. I would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. Related: These airlines are still blocking middle seats After that, the airline can book flights to 100% capacity. ![]() But, otherwise, you're almost guaranteed to have extra elbow room when flying Southwest until the calendar flips to December. You and your family or friends can still sit three across and fill the middle, if you wish. ![]() 1, 2020, however, Southwest is only booking flights to two-thirds capacity (about 67%), so middle seats can remain open. Southwest Airlines doesn't assign seats, so saying middle seats are blocked isn't exactly the case (as TPG's Benet Wilson experienced firsthand). Here's what to expect if you plan to board a Southwest Airlines flight in the near future.įor more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our free daily newsletter. Those core elements haven't changed, but other aspects of flying Southwest have - all in the name of safety and distancing due to COVID-19. With its coveted Companion Pass, lack of advance seat assignments, no bag fees for most checked or carry-on bags and no change fees, flying with Southwest has always felt special. airline has taken its own distinct approach to flying in the age of the coronavirus, but Southwest Airlines has always had a unique way of doing things. That's still less than half the normal rate of daily flyers, but it's progress for an industry that was almost entirely shut down - even though many would-be travelers that still haven't packed their carry-on bag or printed a boarding pass since the pandemic took hold.Įach U.S. has passed that much-anticipated date when more than 1 million travelers flew in a single day. View the current offers here.įor the first time since mid-March, the U.S. Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. ![]()
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